The opening video shows highlights of Lockdown’s of years past, complete with plenty of blood. They preview the dangerousness of the cage, Angle versus Jarrett, the Lethal Lockdown match, and the three-way TNA Championship match. Mike Tenay and Taz welcome us to the show and away we go.

The winner will get a shot at Kazarian’s X-Division Title. I have no idea who is playing Suicide at this point. Suicide and E begin the match and it’s all offense right away of course. Max gets involved and he works with E to subdue the masked man. Jeremy tags in, so Max tags out to Lethal, a former six-time X-Division Champion. Lethal hits Jeremy with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker and the Lethal Combination. Max tags himself in and Jeremy tags in Suicide, who goes to work on Max. E tags himself in and hits Suicide with Sole Food to eliminate him at 2:47. Lethal comes back in and E runs over to tag Sabin. That backfires though because Sabin decides to ping-pong E with right hands alongside Lethal. Then Sabin and Lethal throw E into the cage. Sabin sneaks a quick rollup on Lethal for two and they go back and forth. Lethal hits a nice leg lariat for two. Red finally tags in and he hits Sabin with a missile dropkick. He then halts Lethal’s handspring with a dropkick to the face. Red then hits the Code Red to eliminate Lethal at 4:55. Sabin comes in now and he and Red unleash some fast-paced and high-flying offense on each other. Amazingly Sabin is able to catch Red with the Cradle Shock and then a huge Lariat to eliminate Red at 5:53. Max comes in but Sabin quickly overtakes him and hits the hesitation dropkick in the corner for two. After a standing switch Max is able to run Sabin’s face into the cage. Max then hits Diamond Dust and Sabin is gone at 7:22. Kendrick finally gets in the ring, still wearing his robe. He is a house afire on Max, but gets cut off by an E clothesline. The match breaks down and the Buck brothers are going at it. Jeremy repeatedly whips Max into the cage and then hits a spinwheel kick to the face. Max begs off his brother, but it’s all a ruse as he grabs a quick inside cradle to eliminate his brother at 9:44. We’re down to three men left, and E and Max join forces to work on Kendrick. After some heel miscommunication Kendrick hits E with a running kick to the face to pin him at 11:31. Now the winner is the first man to escape from the cage. Max grounds Kendrick but doesn’t wear him down nearly enough to climb out so he hits a devastating Buckle Bomb. He whips Kendrick into the cage again and goes to climb out but Kendrick joins him up there. Max uses the referee to his advantage to knock Kendrick off the top of the cage, and then he’s able to climb out at 13:34. I think they put too many people in this match and it’s hard for anyone to really get over, but they all tried hard and the action was nonstop so it was fine enough for an opener.
Rating: **¼

Eric Bischoff

Tenay and Taz aren’t sure what Bischoff is doing out in the arena. He says nothing of note for the first several minutes, but does declare tonight to be a special occasion. This is just a rhetoric promo, where Hulk Hogan and Immortal are great, Fortune is dumb, etc. This was not a good use of pay-per-view time.

This is quite the motley crew of guys. Jesse Neal starts off with Young and they have a nice little exchange. Shannon Moore tags in and hits Young with a headscissors and then uses the armbar. Douglas Williams tags in and Young is able to tag his partner. Williams backs Jordan into the corner and Tags Magnus. The Invasion tries to double-team Jordan, but he Gays Up to take the advantage. Neal tags back in and Magnus takes him down with a hard clothesline. Magnus and Williams keep Neal isolated in their corner as the crowd chants for Steiner. Neal is able to roll out of the corner and make the tag to Crimson. Red’s little brother goes right to work on Magnus and hits a neckbreaker for two. Steiner tags in and unleashes his signature spots. He throws out belly-to-belly suplexes like candy in a parade. Moore antagonizes Steiner and the match breaks down. Young takes off his shorts to reveal matching (to his partner Jordan) leopard-skin tights. That gets no pop. Williams hits him with a diving European Uppercut off the second rope. Moore hits Williams with a moonsault and Jordan breaks it up. Steiner and Crimson just watch the action from the apron until Crimson picks his spot with an elevated STO on Neal. Young climbs out of the cage for some reason. Meanwhile Moore hits Magnus with the Mooregasm to get the win at 8:51. That was a complete mess, and I don’t think much of either Neal or Moore in the ring.
Rating: *¼

Rayne has been the champion since 10.14.10 and this is only her fourth defense. James is coming into this match with an injured shoulder, but it matters not. She kicks Rayne in the gut, throws her into the cage a couple of times, and then hits her with the DDT to win the title at 0:36. If a wrester is that that injured that’s the longest match they can work, you need to find an alternate plan.
Rating: DUD

MATCH #4: Samoa Joe vs. “The Pope” D’Angelo Dinero

This was during the time that Okada was videotaping Dinero at Joe’s request, but I have no idea if they ever explained why. Dinero tries to bail early but Joe will have none of that. Joe hits some strikes but Dinero counters with a bodyslam. For some reason Dinero celebrates, and he pays for it. Joe goes back on offense with his strikes to keep Dinero off balance. Dinero tries to escape again and Joe joins him on the top rope and drills him with a headbutt, and he falls crotch-first on the top rope. It’s pretty much been all Joe in the early going. Just as I say that, Dinero uses the referee to his advantage and is able to slam Joe’s face into the cage. He goes on offense now, hitting the 5-Up for a two-count. Joe fights back and goes for the Choke but Dinero cuts him off with an STO for two. Moments later Joe does come back with the snap powerslam and both men are down. They exchange slaps and Joe wins that battle handily. Joe hits the Big Joe Combo for a two-count. He goes up to the middle rope and hits a leg lariat for another near-fall. Joe follows up with the Muscle Buster but they’re too close to the ropes and Dinero gets his foot on the bottom rope to stop the pin. Dinero tries to climb out the cage but Joe Rick Rude’s him to stop his momentum. Tenay and Taz think this is the funniest thing they’ve seen all night. Dinero knocks Joe off the top rope and hits a Macho Man Elbow for only a one-count so he follows up with a Codebreaker for two. He sets up for the DDE but Joe catches him and slams his back into the cage. Joe then hits another Muscle Buster and then locks on the Choke and Dinero is out at 10:24. That was a solid back-and-forth and nothing more.
Rating: **½

MATCH #5: “The Blueprint” Matt Morgan vs. Hernandez

These two have seemingly been feuding forever. Morgan takes the first advantage, squashing Hernandez in the corner and hitting a side slam for two. Anarquia interferes from the floor, grabbing Morgan’s leg through the camera hole, allowing Hernandez to squash Morgan up against the cage. Hernandez takes control now and uses the old Yokozuna nerve pinch hold. Ugh, really? Morgan escapes and hits a cross body block for a one-count. Hernandez comes right back and levels Morgan with a clothesline. Super Mex is in complete control, keeping Morgan prone on the mat. For some reason Hernandez gloats too much, allowing Morgan to come back with a clothesline. Both men rise to their feet and it’s Morgan in control now. Morgan repeatedly throws Hernandez into the side of the cage. He hits a back suplex (“backdrop style suplex” according to Tenay, who is everything “style” with him?) for two. Hernandez fights back with a headbutt to the sternum for two. He charges but Morgan sidesteps him and hurls him into the cage. Now Anarquia, Rosita, and Sarita all start climbing the cage to distract the Blueprint. Hernandez goes up top but jumps right into the Carbon Footprint and Morgan gets the pin at 8:14. Oy, these two just have no chemistry together whatsoever and they need to stop wrestling each other now.
Rating: *

MATCH #6: Kurt Angle vs. Jeff Jarrett

Karen Jarrett gets sent to the back before the match can get underway. This match is being held under “Ultra Male” rules, which is a two out of three falls match, the first fall being submission only, the second fall pinfalls only, and the third fall is escape only.

Angle dominates in the early going but Jarrett quickly takes him down for a Figure-Four Leglock. For some reason the referee is counting Angle’s shoulders down, even though this is a submission only fall. Angle turns the hold over and they roll into the ropes to break the hold. After a suplex Angle locks on the Ankle Lock. Jarrett fights out and puts on a Sleeper. Angle counters it into the Ankle Lock and Jarrett kicks off. Jarrett backs into the corner and Angle charges but hits nothing but ring post. Now Jarrett focuses on the shoulder, hitting an enziguiri and then puts on a Juji Gatame. Angle once again turns it into the Ankle Lock and this time Jarrett taps out at 4:52.

The second fall begins right away with Angle slugging away. Jarrett comes back and hits the Stroke but Angle kicks out at two. He goes up top for a cross body block but Angle rolls through for a two-count. Jarrett cuts him off with a clothesline and gets his own near-fall. Angle pops up out of nowhere and they clothesline each other. Now Angle is on fire and the crowd remains lukewarm. Angle hits a belly-to-belly suplex for two. Jarrett cuts him off with a kneelift and then hurls him into the cage. Angle ducks a right hand and delivers the rolling German Suplexes. Jarrett holds onto the top rope and delivers a low blow. Tenay and Taz note how the referee didn’t see it, but since this is pinfalls only there aren’t any disqualifications. Jarrett goes for the Stroke again but Angle pushes him into the cage and hits the Angle Slam for a close near-fall. Angle puts Jarrett up top and hits a brutal belly-to-belly and Jarrett kicks out again. He turns Jarrett inside out with a clothesline and then hits a Diamond Cutter for two. Moments later Jarrett grabs Angle with a schoolboy rollup and a handful of tights to even the score at 11:26. Tenay and Taz are confused as to if Angle got the fall or not, and so is the crowd so they should always have bells in two out of three falls matches.

The cage is now unlocked. Angle hits five rolling German Suplexes and looks to walk out of the cage but changes his mind and goes back in to fight his nemesis some more. In fact, he locks the door and Jarrett is frightened. Angle throws Jarrett into the cage repeatedly and Jarrett is busted open. They battle up on the top rope and Jarrett positions Angle for a powerbomb with a nasty landing. You know, there are some moves that some guys just shouldn’t try. That was a horrible-looking landing on Angle’s neck, which isn’t in good shape. Jarrett goes to escape the cage but Angle pops up and hits a Super Angle Slam. Unfortunately Angle can’t find the key he had stashed in his trunks so he can’t go out the door. Instead Angle climbs up the cage, but Immortal’s Gunner runs out with a steel chair to prevent Angle from climbing down. With nowhere else to go, Angle decides to go for the Moonsault but he overshoots it and hits nothing but mat. Now Scott Steiner comes running out to chase Gunner off. Angle just brushes off that horrendous fall and finds the key. He unlocks the cage and tries to walk out but Karen runs out and sprays hairspray (I assume) in his eyes. A blinded Angle clotheslines the referee. Jarrett tries to escape the cage but Angle grabs him in the Ankle Lock and drags him back into the ring. Karen hands her husband a guitar and Jarrett breaks it on Angle’s head. Once again Jarrett goes to crawl out and Angle tries to pull him back in with the Ankle Lock, but Karen slams the door on her ex-husband’s head and Jarrett falls to the floor to win the match at 22:35. So the referee sent Karen to the back before the match but doesn’t mind if she interferes anyway? I’ve seen these two have some really good matches and I’ve seen this match get some praise but I can’t see why. There was no story to the match at all, just a series of moves, botches, and no-selling. Plus, what did Gunner and Scott Steiner add to the match? This was really disappointing.
Rating: **

Sting has been the champion since 3.3.11 and this is his second defense. Both Sting and RVD attack Anderson in the early going. Sting goes for an early Scorpion Deathlock but RVD breaks it up. RVD flips around a bit and kicks Sting in the face. He hits a standing moonsault for two, and then tries to bounce off the ropes but cracks his head on the cage door. If that was an accident, it’s hilarious and if it was a spot it makes RVD look really, really stupid. Anderson recovers and goes for the Mic Check on Sting, but Sting counters to another Scorpion Deathlock attempt. Once again RVD breaks it up, but Sting is able to put both men in the hold, and that is one of the gayer positions I’ve seen in a wrestling ring. Both challengers reach the bottom rope. RVD and Sting clunk heads together and all three men are down. Taz is the worst commentator ever. Anderson rolls over and tries to cover both men but only gets a two-count. He pulls both men up and hits a simultaneous Mic Check but can’t pin either man just yet. RVD comes back and hits Anderson with the Five-Star Frog Splash. Sting breaks up the cover and goes for the Scorpion Deathdrop but Anderson clotheslines him and all three men are down. This brings out Hulk Hogan with a lead pipe, complete with his music. Hogan hands the pipe to RVD, who refuses to use it, much to Hogan’s chagrin. Anderson has no such qualms and bashes RVD with the pipe. Unfortunately for him he doesn’t see Sting coming up from behind, and Sting hits the Scorpion Deathdrop to get the win and retain the title at 7:55. That was not horrible but way too short for a World Title match. Plus was Hogan really needed in a sub-eight minute match? This was more of an Impact match.
Rating: *¾

Kazarian will star the match for Fortune, while Immortal has Abyss batting leadoff. They go back and forth a bit, with Kazarian showing off his speed and agility and Abyss countering with power. Kazarian has the advantage as the clock runs down, and when Hardy joins the match Kazarian remains in control. He goes for the reverse piledriver but Abyss breaks it up and now Immortal takes control. Hardy locks on the Ice Pick and then hits the Side Effect. Daniels is the next man in to even the odds. He hits the Best Moonsault Ever on Abyss and then turns his attention to Hardy, hitting him with a curb stomp off the ropes. Kazarian and Daniels work together to keep both members of Immortal at bay. Time runs down and Flair is the next man in for Immortal, and he gives his team the advantage. Storm is next in and he spits beer in Hardy’s face and hits a Lungblower. He then breaks the beer bottle over Flair’s head to bust him open. Bully Ray comes in to give Immortal their last advantage. Finally Robert Roode enters the fray and now the ceiling lowers and weapons are made available. They go to the split screen, which isn’t really necessary or helpful. Abyss gets knocked out of the cage and Daniels follows him out with a trash can lid. Hardy and Daniels then climb to the top of the cage and the crowd finally comes alive. It doesn’t go well for Daniels though, who takes the Twist of Hate up on the roof. While the fight continues in the ring, Daniels recovers and leaps off the top of the cage to wipe out Abyss and Hardy on the floor. In the ring Bully Ray takes control and he and Flair wear Fortune out with kendo sticks. Ray tells Daniels this beating is for his friend AJ Styles, and that brings out the man himself! Styles gets in the cage and throws Ray all over it. That gives Roode the chance to lock Flair in a Fujiwara Armbar, really wrenching it in and Flair taps out at 22:53. That was pretty fun as far as Lethal Lockdown matches go, but since it’s almost September and the feud is still going with no end in sight it doesn’t end up meaning much I guess.
Rating: ***